Trevarthen's partner, Greg Robertson, said there was no doubt she accidentally inhaled the deadly asbestos fibres, and said linking compensation to employment was unfair and outdated.
He said the two months ACC had to review the latest evidence was too long when dealing with a fast-moving disease like cancer. "Fighting asbestos cancer has cost us more than $100,000 and Deanna does worry about that," Robertson said.
"We have had to call on help from family, but compensation would remove the financial stress and Deanna could just concentrate on getting well."
Expensive rounds of Keytruda had "provided a miracle". Large tumours on Trevarthen's back had almost disappeared and a "tricky" tumour on her lung was improving enough for doctors to treat it with radiation.
"Every step with cancer is a small victory, but the word miracle has been mentioned a lot."
ACC minister Nikki Kaye has been following Trevarthen's progress and in January she said she would review the law "within three-six months".
Robertson said immediate action needed to be taken. "This is about people's lives, it is not the flag change or what is happening with Brexit."
Kaye said the review had started but it was complex and covered several areas.
Even if she did recommend changes to the law after the review, they would first need to go through the appropriate Cabinet and Parliamentary processes, including consideration in the House and by Select Committee.
Keytruda decision soon
Pharmac has closed its consultation period on Keytruda and will soon decide whether to fund it. The use and funding of the immunotherapy drug has been widely debated and a 54,000-strong petition calling for funding was presented to Parliament in March.
The drug, also known as pembrolizumab, is given by infusion in hospital and is funded in the UK, Australia and the US for advanced melanoma and used for lung cancers such as mesothelioma. Pharmac started funding a similar drug, Opdivo, this month.
To donate to Deanna: givealittle.co.nz/cause/deesday
